Vintage Creative Kokeshi Doll by Master Seiho Aida (Harumine) | 23 cm

An Award-Winning Mid-Century Masterpiece Celebrating the Poetic Spirit of Summer

Add an exceptionally rare and culturally significant piece to your collection with this magnificent vintage Creative (Sosaku) Kokeshi Doll, standing at 23 cm tall. This doll is a masterpiece by the highly acclaimed, multi-award-winning artisan Seiho Aida (1927–2004), who also crafted under the recognized art name Harumine.

As seen beautifully in the image kdkok.168.jpg, this particular design is one of Aida's most celebrated and poetic creations. It is themed around the Cicada (Semi), a deeply symbolic insect in Japanese culture representing the fleeting, beautiful transience of summer (mono no aware).

Artistry & Masterful Design Details

• The Fan & Umbrella Hair Accessory: The most striking feature of this doll is its elaborate, multi-tiered headpiece. The round head is crowned with a beautifully hand-painted, fan-shaped comb (kushi) pinned with a wooden hair stick (kanzashi). Nestled gracefully behind the fan is a carved, umbrella-like topknot ornament painted with traditional crest geometric motifs.

• Serene Contemplation: The face displays Aida’s signature mid-century elegance, featuring modern blunt-cut bangs (hime-cut) framing downcast, sleeping ink eyes and a tiny crimson mouth that perfectly evoke a dreamy summer afternoon.

• Lathe-Threaded Tsubaki (Camellia) Robe: The cylindrical body is an incredible display of woodturning skill. The entire torso is finely scored with tight, horizontal lathe-turned lines that create a beautiful textural backdrop. Over this, a gorgeous white and red Tsubaki (Camellia) floral display is painted, framed by bold green bands.

• The Cicada Detail: True to its title, a highly stylized, abstract representation of a cicada is integrated into the lower organic elements of the dress decoration, camouflaged beautifully as a nod to nature's quiet hidden treasures.

• Authentic Artisan Seal: The base features Aida's official red ink hanko (artisan seal), guaranteeing its status as a genuine piece of elite postwar Japanese art.

Collector's Notes

• Very Good Vintage Condition: The delicate, multi-tiered hair ornaments are completely intact—a rarity for this specific model, as these protruding wooden pieces are frequently damaged over time. The paints are wonderfully saturated and clean.

• Elite Pedigree: Seiho Aida was a giant of the Sosaku movement, earning the prestigious Prime Minister Award (the absolute highest honor an artisan can achieve in Japan) for his revolutionary contributions to modern kokeshi craft. His pieces are highly coveted for their structural complexity and delicate, feminine charm.

Specifications

• Artisan: Seiho Aida / Harumine (1927–2004)

• Title: Semi (Cicada / Summer Song)

• Type: Creative / Modernist Kokeshi (Sosaku)

• Height: 23 cm tall

• Material: Hand-turned Japanese wood, organic pigments

• Authentication: Official artist's hanko seal on the bottom

• Condition: Very good vintage condition with intact hair ornaments